Quiet Trails of the Solukhumbu

What to expect

Over the past two years, I have been especially drawn to the lower Everest region of Solukhumbu for its gentle hiking trails, vibrant village life, and the warm hospitality of the Sherpa community. Through many conversations with local guesthouse owners, I learned that this beautiful region has been somewhat overlooked as tourism has increasingly focused on Everest Base Camp. As a result, Solukhumbu has retained much of its original charm and offers an authentic glimpse into Sherpa life, the descendants of Tibetan migrants who settled here centuries ago.

For those who wish to venture deeper into the Himalaya and experience rugged mountains and glaciers up close, the trek continues directly from the main route at the end of the two-week journey. This optional extension adds five consecutive days of trekking, leading us to a sacred alpine lake.

Quiet Trails of the Solukhumbu-Autumn - Shanti Treks

Why trek with us

My Experience & deep Insight

• Over 150 days on Nepal’s major trekking routes
• Insights and stories shaped by long term local relationships and seasonal returns
• Deep cultural knowledge and academic focus on the Himalaya (MSc. In South Asian Studies)

Trusted Local Partnership

• Guides are local experts with deep passion for their mountains
• Fair pay, full insurance, proper gear, and respectful treatment for all staff
• Porters are valued members of the team, not invisible labour

Your Well Being Comes First

• Slow, thoughtful acclimatisation and safety focused pacing
• Two guides on the trail so no one is ever left alone
• Priority on how you feel, not just reaching the destination

Personal Support, Before and During the Trek

• Hands on guidance throughout your preparation
• Open communication by phone, email, or message
• No question is too small, and you are never on your own

Empowering Women in Nepal

• Actively supporting women entering the trekking industry
• Partnering with a local NGO to train and mentor future female guides
• Creating meaningful cultural exchange that goes far beyond the trail

Physical requirements

The trek is quite different from the hut tours in the Alps. While we only hike on non-technical hiking trails, the difficulty of the tour lies in the length of the trek and the higher altitude. When hiking up to Pikey Peak, we start before sunrise and return after sunset, with a full day of trekking of around ten hours. We hike almost continuously over 3000 meters and sleep at up to 4000 meters, which means it can be quite cold at night and in the early morning and evening hours. The bedrooms can have temperatures around 0 °C at night. Food at such altitudes is generally sufficient, but not as varied as in the valley. In general, you should have done multi-day treks in the mountains before, have solid basic fitness and have time to prepare your body for the tour. You should have no severe health problems or known problems with altitude, hike consistently and steadily at your own pace, and be hardy against the cold. In addition, your physical condition should not suffer easily due to simple accommodation and food.

Please note that it is your responsibility to make sure that you are fit enough and able to participate in this trip. If you have never hiked with me before or are unsure whether you meet the physical and technical requirements or whether you have the right equipment, I’d be very happy to speak over the phone with you about the trip in advance.

Service included

Framework & Organisation

• A group of max. 10 guests, min. 4 guests
• Organised & insured by a registered travel company
• Two trekking guides (Local & Europe-based UIMLA)

Personal support prior to the trip

• After Sign-Up: General Info-package (e.g. details on flights, visa, vaccinations, a packing list)
• Three months ahead: Hands-On Info package with all details (e.g. accommodation, transport)
• One month ahead: Online info-event for the group
• Continuously: Individual travel advice via phone, WhatsApp Group or e-mail

Before & after the trek

• Bed & Breakfast (Double/Twin)
• Airport transfer & all group travel in the city

On the Trek

• Trekking permits
• Private Jeeps to the trek and back
• Accommodation in teahouses (mostly twins)
• All meals & beverages (tea/coffee, hot water)
• Luggage transport by porters (max. 10 kg)

Extra costs on tour

• Travel to Kathmandu
• Visa (approx. 50 €)
• Lunch and dinner in Bhaktapur (5 € to 20 €)
• Tips for the local guide, drivers and porters
• Extras on the Trek (e.g. hot showers, Wi-Fi, sometimes battery charging; 2-5 € each)
• Additional costs may vary and are for guidance only.

Accommodation

In Kathmandu we sleep in a very nice hotel with a beautiful and peaceful garden, surrounded by a lively neighbourhood where a lot of restaurants, cafes and shops are located. Here we can prepare perfectly for our trek and end our time together after our return.

On the tour we sleep in teahouses run by locals from the region. There is usually a room where cooking takes place with an adjoining dining room that is heated and where people spend the day and evening. The bedrooms are usually twins and sometimes multi-bedrooms in the same or adjacent buildings. These rooms are generally not heated and are equipped with simple wooden beds including a mattress, a pillow and a blanket. Washrooms provide cold running water and there are usually Asian style toilets (directly in the ground). Some accommodations offer (warm) showers at an additional cost. The higher you go, the simpler the accommodation becomes. Besides hot showers, you often have to pay extra for Wi-Fi, if available, and charging power devices.

Food

The cuisine in the teahouses is surprisingly diverse, from traditional Dāl bhāt, fried rice and delicious soups to pizza and pasta. Porridge and muesli are also very popular alongside the typical bread with scrambled eggs for breakfast. Vegetables and fruits become less available above 3500 meters and must be treated before drinking.

Travel

Kathmandu has an international airport, and you can join up with other guests to travel to Kathmandu together. The tour price includes an airport transfer on the day of your arrival and departure. I highly recommend arriving a few days before the official start of the tour and departing a day after it ends. I am happy to arrange and book additional hotel nights for you if needed. 

Health and Safety

On the trek we hike up to an altitude of 4000 meters (4600 meters if you extend the trip) and sleep up to 4000 meters. Although we take a lot of time to acclimatize, some people may experience problems with the altitude. You can find further information about altitude sickness on the website of the UK’s national health service (NHS). There are no special vaccination regulations for Nepal. You find more information about health on the NHS fit for travel website and about travel and safety on the UK foreign office's website.

Programme

Day 1 – Arrival
We meet at the Bed & Breakfast in Bhaktapur, where we also sleep the last two nights of our trip, so we can leave additional luggage at the hotel during the trek. You can arrive any time. In the evening we have a joined dinner. If you arrive early that day, you can join an optional sightseeing tour in Kathmandu.

Day 2 – Visit Akasha Academy
We drive to the outskirts of Kathmandu to visit the Akasha Academy, where the women that are interested in becoming mountain leaders are attending their one-year traineeship. They will show us their project and its beautiful premisses, we have lunch at their artisan bakery, and they will take us for a gentle hike in the surrounding hills.

Day 3 - Getting ready
Today we get organised and ready for our trek. We start with a detailed tour briefing in the hotel’s garden and discuss the packing list. After that you can take your time to pack and get last things you need from the market. Day 4 – Drive to start of the trek We start very early to take private jeeps to a small town in the Himalaya and the starting point of our trek (8-10 hrs).

Day 5 – Bhandar (2075 m)
10 km, ↑ 900 m, ↓ 650 m, 5 hrs
The trail begins with a steady climb out of town, winding through terraced fields, small settlements, and patches of forest. As we gain altitude, views open up over rolling green hills and distant mountain ridges, offering a first sense of the vast Himalayan landscape. After reaching the small settlement of Deurali on the ridge, where we stop for lunch, the path gradually descends toward Bhandar, passing through rhododendron and pine forest. Note: Walking times given do not include breaks. Unless otherwise stated, we usually set off around 8:00 am and reach our accommodations between 3:00 and 4:00 pm.

Day 6 – Chaulikharka (2015 m)
10 km, ↑ 650 m, ↓ 650 m, 4 hrs
From Bhandar, the trail follows a gently descending dirt road through small villages and along green meadows and cultivated fields toward a suspension bridge that crosses the Likhu Khola. From the river, a steady ascent begins through terraced farmland, eventually leading to the small settlement of Chaulikharka.

Day 7 - Mu Gumba (2985 m)
4 km, ↑ 1000 m, 4 hrs
The day begins with a steep climb, rewarded by increasingly spectacular views of snow-capped peaks in the distance. After lunch in a family-run teahouse, we continue uphill until we reach a ridge with views of Pikey Peak and the coming days’ route. We overnight in a ridge-top village on a beautiful sunlit plateau, with three monasteries nearby to visit.

Day 8 – Ngaur (3390 m)
7 km, ↑ 580 m, ↓ 150 m, 4 hrs
A lovely ridge walks through lush rhododendron forests with panoramic views in every direction. Nagur is a remote hamlet with only two houses and a monastery. Our teahouse, run by a friendly woman, offers simple dormitory rooms. Meals are shared around the kitchen hearth – an authentic glimpse into local life in this isolated region.

Day 9 – Pikey Peak Basecamp (3730 m)
3 km, ↑ 400 m, 4 hrs
After enjoying breakfast and the sunrise views from the monastery, we ascend gradually through ancient forest to the tree line and on to Pikey Peak Basecamp. Though not far, the thin air makes the climb slower than expected. In the afternoon, we leave our daypacks behind and embark on a short acclimatisation walk offering a glimpse of tomorrow’s peak and the first snow-peaked mountains in the distance.

Day 10 – Pikey Peak (4065 m) & Takor (3496 m)
8 km, ↑ 600 m, ↓ 850 m, 8-10 hrs
Today we will be on our legs from before dawn until almost dusk, but the effort is richly rewarded. The hike up the grassy slopes to the summit of Pikey Peak seems short yet will take us about 2.5 – 3 hours. The panorama is unforgettable, with sweeping views of eight-thousand-meter peaks stretching from Kanchenjunga in the east to Annapurna in the west, including Everest. After taking time to absorb the view, we descend to Jase Bhanjyang at 3,800 meters for a well-earned brunch. By then, much of the day feels complete, and the morning’s excitement slowly gives way to a quieter awareness in our legs on the way down. The second half of the day begins with another steady ascent to a high plateau dotted with herders’ huts. From there, we continue climbing through rhododendron forest until the open grassy fields of Thakor finally come into view.

Day 11 – Tupten Choling Monastery (3045 m)
10 km, ↑ 500 m, ↓ 550 m, 4 hrs
Our trail winds mostly downhill along forest tracks to Junbesi, a small village with shops selling chocolate and treats, where we stop for lunch. We pass Serlo Monastery, a vibrant learning center for about 100 monks, with an exhibition well worth a visit. From Junbesi it is not far to reach the beautifully located Monastery of Tupten Choling. We check into their newly renovated guesthouse and have time to relax, as we stay for two nights here.

Day 12 – Rest day at the Monastery
The day is entirely free to shape according to your own rhythm, whether you prefer gentle guidance or quiet time on your own. Those who are interested are welcome to join informal discussions where I share insights from my master’s degree studies on Buddhism and Himalayan architecture, helping to place the monastery and its rituals into a broader cultural and historical context. You may also like to join the monks and nuns during their prayer sessions, gaining insight into daily Buddhist practice while enjoying a peaceful and grounding moment for meditation. There is also time to explore the surrounding area, walk through the peaceful monastery grounds, or simply rest and enjoy the calm atmosphere.

Day 13 – Phurteng (3010 m) 
8 km, ↑ 400 m, ↓ 450 m, 4 hrs
We follow the trail back to Junbesi and continue gently uphill through forest to reach Phurteng, a tiny hamlet with just two houses. One is Pemba’s organic farm and teahouse, where we stay and enjoy freshly harvested vegetables and taste the region’s famous yak cheese. 

Day 14 – Phablu (2480 m) 
6 km, ↑ 300 m, ↓ 800 m, 3 hrs
A beautiful panoramic trail with views of Mount Everest through small agriculture-based villages leads us to Ringmu (2810 m), where we arrive in time for an early lunch. 

12 km, ↑ 200 m, ↓ 500 m, 4.5 hrs
From here a dirt road leads all the way to Phablu, the final destination of the trek, and from where a jeep will bring you back to Kathmandu the next day. If you extend your trek to continue deeper into the wild side of the Himalaya, you can enjoy a free afternoon in Ringmu to wash some clothes, have a shower and simply relax. The next day we continue our trekking, see the detailed itinerary here.

Day 15 – Drive back
After breakfast, the private jeep will take you back to the Bed & Breakfast in Bhaktapur (9-11 hrs), where you arrive just in time for dinner. 

Day 16 – Departure
You are free to depart at any time today. However, as you arrive late the night before after a long jeep ride, I recommend beginning your journey home or onward travel the following day instead. Note that our hiking days may differ from the described programme due to weather and path conditions or the physical ability of the group.

Payment Information

A deposit of €150 is required within seven days of booking, with the remaining balance due 30 days before the start date. Payment in instalments is possible; please contact me directly at info(at)shantitreks.com. Please note that the cancellation policy applies as outlined in the T&Cs.